My mother, whom most refer to as Margie or Marge, shared this in response to yesterday’s International Women’s Day and the subject of gender equality:

My generation knew we could be teachers, nurses, telephone operators, clerks, waitresses, nuns, secretaries and, of course, housewives. During WW2 women worked in the factories making our aircraft. You would think that would have made us equals – not so. Things have come a long way. We must continue to be brave.

Mrs. Banks from Disney’s Mary Poppins

Thank you Mom for all the ways in which you bravely paved the way for my generation. And a great big thank you for never complaining as I marched around the house singing to Sister Suffragette from Mary Poppins, over and over and over again, set to volume high on my trusty play and close record player.

Singing in grateful chorus to you Mom and to all of the generations of women who have worked and continue to work towards equality for all people: well done!

Your perfectly, perfect voice and your values can shape the future. Who will you be? What will you create? What will you have the courage to stand for?

Get out from under the old, worn-out lizard brain stories you tell yourself about not being smart enough, resourced enough, not good enough. Connect with and embrace your voice in this world. Acknowledge this is your world and you have a responsibility to take care of it – your voice matters.

Rally around and cheer on the women who have the courage to lead: “I stand with you. I stand for you.”

As part of this day, UN Women Global Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson will be talking and taking part in a special Facebook live event in London. An event in which Emma will continue to use her voice in support of gender equality.

The social media gathering advances the UN Women HeForShe campaign. The campaign’s goal is to mobilize one billion men and boys as advocates of change in ending the inequalities women and girls face globally.

HeForShe is described as a solidarity movement for gender equality that brings together one half of humanity in support of the other half of humanity, for the entirety of humanity.

Your voice is powerful – raise it to tell the world why equality for every woman and girl is worth fighting for. How will you use the power of your perfectly, perfect voice to be the change you want for the world?